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Norton: Users in the UAE allow hackers to sneak into their homes through smartphones

May

15

2017

1 in 10 users in the UAE fails to set standards to protect their smart home.
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One third of consumers in the UAE have intelligent home appliances, and the vast majority (86%) believe that these devices make their lives easier. However, while they welcome these Internet-connected devices such as heat and television organizations Video game consoles and child monitors, the laxity and neglect of security procedures make them exposed to hackers who are constantly searching for gaps.

Symantec’s recent study showed that IoT’s unsafe Internet devices were under attack within two minutes of their Internet connection. According to Norton’s Cyber ​​Security Statistics report , which was conducted by about 21,000 global consumers , including 883 people in the UAE, Buying an Internet-enabled device they open a new door to attack them in their homes by hackers.

One in two (50%) of respondents said they knew that the increasing popularity and reliability of smart home appliances would make it a new target for hackers, while more than half (55%) of respondents believed that the chance to sequence someone to one of their smartphones was more than a chance Sneak into their homes. 64% believe that their Internet-connected devices provide hackers with new ways to steal their identities and personal information.

Despite their knowledge of the security risks posed by Internet-connected devices, vulnerabilities in these users ‘security devices and habits continue to increase hackers’ ability. One out of every 10 users in the UAE said they did not have any protection for their smartphones, and one in six (18%) admitted that their Wi-Fi networks were not password-protected. Also, one out of every five people (19%) did not change pre-configured passwords on their devices when purchased and set up a Wi-Fi connection.

Nearly half of respondents (49%) said they did not know how to secure their Wi-Fi connection at home, and more than half did not know how to update their software (70%). More than half of respondents (58%) believe that there are not enough smart home users to be targeted by hackers. More than two thirds of respondents (68%) said they expected safety standards to be taken into account when designing home appliances connected to the Internet. Symantec researchers, however, found security holes in 50 intelligent home appliances, from temperature control devices to intelligent control centers, For hackers.

“The past few months have witnessed a large number of cyber attacks on sensitive targets, revealing how cybercriminals are exploiting the low level of security in these smart home appliances to penetrate, control and deploy home networks,” said Tamim Tawfiq, director of Norton Middle East. Malware through which the user is unaware. ” “The time when intelligent devices offer some advantages, but the other face also carries several risks. Just as hackers know how to gain from attacks on social networking platforms and bank accounts, they will soon learn how to make greater gains from Internet-enabled devices.”

To make your home network safer, Symantec recommends that you review and compare smart device reviews and security capabilities before you buy. Changing the router’s pre-set password when you buy it, as well as devices connected to the home network, and more importantly, using strong and distinctive Router passwords and devices connected to a Wi-Fi network.

The company also recommends a strong encryption system when setting up WPA access. It also recommends disabling services or options that will not be used. By modifying the privacy and security settings in smart devices according to user needs, and eliminating the pre-set. And to close or disable the connection of smart devices and home network when not in use.

Check your voice recognition settings and commands, and change them constantly as needed to avoid risk of user privacy. You must disable the UPnP feature unless you need it most.

You should rely more on network connectivity via cable rather than Wi-Fi. Follow-up updates and patches of device drivers on the official website of the manufacturer. Care must be taken to share sensitive information, such as a Wi-Fi password with others, and a separate guest network must be created. You must stay away from using your real name as a user name when naming a Wi-Fi network. As well as the undeclared cost of “free” services and products. Use protection programs if available.

Recent attacks using malicious MIRAI software in October 2016 targeted intelligent home appliances, caused multiple websites to be shut down worldwide, and another attack that allowed everyone on the Internet to watch live footage of child monitoring cameras , In which attackers could change the settings of heat regulators or shut down locks, as well as other reports that attackers could control and control the automated home systems owned by other users.

The Federal Trade Commission has taken legal action against the manufacturer of home surveillance cameras and child surveillance cameras. The committee said the cameras were marketed as “safe,” but cameras “use weak operating systems that make them vulnerable to online viewing by anyone with an Internet number And in some cases it has come to the hearing, “the Commission added.” As a result of this huge gap, hundreds of live scenes of camera users were leaked to the Internet. “